Trump stated, 'I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL.' He criticized NATO nations for their lack of timely support during the crisis.
President Trump stated that Iran's naval forces were 'lying at the bottom of the sea' and warned that any ships approaching the blockade would be 'immediately ELIMINATED.' He compared the blockade enforcement to US counter-narcotics operations at sea.